How to move WordPress from a subfolder

Moving WordPress from a subfolder to the root directory of your website can be a bit complex, but it’s a straightforward process if you follow these steps:

Step 1: Backup your site

Before making any changes, it’s essential to backup your website. This will ensure that you have a copy of your site’s files and database in case something goes wrong during the migration process.

Step 2: Change the WordPress address

In the wp-config.php file, update the WP_HOME and WP_SITEURL constants to point to the new root directory. You can do this by adding the following lines at the top of the file:

define('WP_HOME', 'http://example.com');
define('WP_SITEURL', 'http://example.com');

Replace http://example.com with your website’s root URL.

Step 3: Update the database

You’ll need to update the database to reflect the new root directory. You can do this by running the following SQL query:

UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = replace(option_value, 'http://www.example.com/subfolder/', 'http://www.example.com/') WHERE option_name = 'home' OR option_name = 'site_url';

Replace http://www.example.com/subfolder/ with your current site URL and http://www.example.com/ with your new root URL.

Step 4: Update theme files

You’ll need to update any theme files that contain hard-coded URLs pointing to the subfolder. You can use a find-and-replace tool or manually search for these instances.

Step 5: Move files

Move all files from the subfolder to the root directory. Make sure to preserve the directory structure and file names.

Step 6: Update .htaccess file

Update the .htaccess file to point to the new root directory. You can do this by adding the following lines:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/subfolder [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /subfolder/$1 [L]

This will redirect any requests from the old subfolder URL to the new root URL.

Step 7: Test your site

After moving your site, test it thoroughly to ensure everything is working as expected. Check that all pages, posts, and images are displaying correctly.

Additional tips

Make sure to update any plugins or themes that rely on hard-coded URLs.
If you’re using a caching plugin, clear the cache after moving your site.
Consider updating your DNS settings if you’re changing your domain name.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully move your WordPress site from a subfolder to the root directory. If you encounter any issues or have further questions, feel free to ask!

How to move WordPress from a subfolder